Gov.-elect Tony Evers said he "will take any steps possible" to prevent Republican lawmakers from removing key powers from his new administration.

Republican lawmakers are to hold a hearing Monday on a sweeping plan to weaken his authority. Both chambers could vote to approve the measures Tuesday.

"I view this as a repudiation of the last election. I will take any steps possible to assure the people of Wisconsin that I will not invalidate those votes," Evers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an interview Saturday. "And frankly, I'm encouraging citizens across the state of Wisconsin to help me in that effort."

Following the defeat of Gov. Scott Walker in the Nov. 6 election, Republican lawmakers have put forward a slate of legislation that would provide more power to the state Legislature and prevent Evers from having authority over key areas of state government.

In Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon, Evers said the efforts by the GOP-led Legislature are an attempt to change the result of the gubernatorial election.

"We had 2.6 million people in the state of Wisconsin voting in the election and they thought very carefully about that vote," Evers said. "This special session bill will take us to a place where people in Wisconsin will feel their vote has not been counted."

The sweeping legislation would also limit early voting and move Wisconsin's 2020 presidential primary at a cost of some $7 million in an effort to make it easier for conservative Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly to win his contest that year.

Another provision could allow Republican lawmakers to prevent the state from getting out of a lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, something Evers has promised to do.

The legislation would also restrict Evers' power over rules used to implement state laws and limit his flexibility in how he runs many public benefits programs.

Republican legislative leaders say the plan will re-balance power between the legislative and executive branches — a dynamic they say was tipped in Walker's favor by their own action. In the 2010 election, the party gained full control of state government.

"Maybe we made some mistakes giving too much power to Gov. Walker and I'd be open to looking at that to see if there are areas we should change that," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told reporters a day after the general election.

Their plan would provide more legislative authority over state agencies and remove key powers from Evers and incoming Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul. GOP leaders said the plan prevents Evers from undoing laws passed under Republican control.

Evers said the GOP plan goes far beyond simply protecting past Republican policies and attempts to prevent the decision by voters to elect Democrats to state offices from becoming reality.

"Frankly, it's another embarrassment for the state of Wisconsin," Evers told the Journal Sentinel. "The people of the state certainly indicated we needed to move beyond rancor and politics as usual. And what is the first thing that's happened? Rancor and politics as usual. I don't think the people of this state will take this well."

When asked if he would consider legal action against the plan if lawmakers move forward, Evers said, "Everything's on the table."

"We’re exploring options — all of them," Evers said. "But we hope not to take them. We hope legislators will rethink their strategy."

Part of focus is on jobs agency

One provision would give Republicans more control of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the state's job creation agency, which Evers has pledged to dissolve and reconstitute.

Under the GOP plan, Evers would lose the ability to choose the leader of the WEDC and lawmakers would get more appointments to the board that oversees the agency. The board, not Evers, would get to pick the agency's leader.

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, said Sunday on Madison's WKOW-TV that Republicans want to make sure Evers doesn't cripple the agency by withholding appointments to its board.

Despite the clash before Evers takes office, Steineke said he believed the Legislature and Evers could work together over the next four years.

"I think there's great possibility we can find common ground on a lot of different issues," he said. "(Voters) wanted divided government. We're going to find a way to work together."

Appearing Sunday on WISN-TV's "UpFront with Mike Gousha," Evers said he still plans to disband the jobs agency, but may pursue the change through stand-alone legislation rather than the state budget. He said the state's approach to economic development needs to be more comprehensive.

"It has to be a 72-county thing," he said.

Comparisons to North Carolina

Democrats are comparing the Wisconsin Republicans' plan to one signed in 2016 by GOP Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina after he was defeated by a Democrat.

The legislation passed by the North Carolina Legislature weakened incoming Gov. Roy Cooper's authority over the state's election system and reduced the number of the governor's appointments. The matter ended up in court, and was found to be unconstitutional.

Walker has not answered questions about whether he would support the measures being considered by lawmakers.

Evers said he respected Walker as a person and appreciated the opportunity to campaign against him in a hard-fought election but warned that if Walker signs the bill into law, "his legacy will be tied to this."

"As he thinks about signing this bill whenever it comes to his desk, I hope he thinks about how he could govern under those rules," Evers said.

A hearing is planned for 12:30 p.m. Monday and opponents have promised to pack the state Capitol for it. GOP lawmakers plan a committee vote on the measures as soon as the hearing is over and to take the measures up Tuesday in the Senate and Assembly.

Evers said he doesn't plan to testify at the hearing because he's speaking out now, though he said he has heard from many who plan on "showing up in good numbers to make sure their voices are heard. But I also know people are making a good faith effort to make sure civility reigns."

The lame-duck session comes as Evers assembles his cabinet and prepares to introduce a state budget early next year.

Evers told Gousha he was committed to finding $1.4 billion for schools over two years — a figure Republican lawmakers consider too high. Evers said he could fashion a schools plan that did not raise taxes, but in answer to a question said he would "possibly" support higher sales taxes.

Impact on Affordable Care Act lawsuit

One measure included in the GOP's lame-duck plan would remove Evers' power to approve actions taken by Kaul and give that power to the Legislature's GOP-controlled budget committee.

That could mean the campaign promise from the two Democrats to withdraw the state from a federal lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act could be blocked by lawmakers.

Evers said Saturday he's "very concerned" about that prospect.

"Certainly that is something that was part and parcel to this last campaign and there's no question the governor and I were on different sides of that issue," Evers said. "I also think that's one of the reasons I won."

Republican lawmakers also hope to take up legislation that would ensure protections for pre-existing conditions, but Evers said on WISN-TV the bill is "cosmetic" because if the the Affordable Care Act goes away, the state cannot impose rules for pre-existing coverage on self-funded private health plans.

Evers campaigned heavily on moving away from what he characterized as a divisive political atmosphere over the last eight years. He said Saturday he still believes that's possible, despite the legislation to weaken his power.

"Yes I do. That’s me. That’s part of my DNA. Regardless of what happens here, we’ll still make sure we’ll reach common ground," Evers said. "That's what voters wanted. They want less fighting."

A wide-range of changes

Other provisions under consideration would:

Move the 2020 presidential primary from April to March. That is aimed at ensuring there is lower turnout during the April election for state Supreme Court, which would make it easier for conservatives to maintain their court majority.

Limit early voting to two weeks. A similar limit was found unconstitutional in 2016 and Democrats have threatened to take legal action again.

Give lawmakers — instead of the attorney general — control over how court settlements are spent.

Allow the Legislature to substitute the attorney general with taxpayer-funded private attorneys — picked by lawmakers — when state laws are challenged in court.

Make it easier for lawmakers to hire private attorneys at taxpayer expense when they are accused of violating the open records law or other statutes.

Modestly lower the state’s income tax rates next year to offset about $60 million in online sales taxes from out-of-state retailers that Wisconsin recently began collecting.

Require Evers to get permission from lawmakers to ban guns in the state Capitol or make other changes to security provisions there — including increasing the number of police officers who patrol the statehouse.

Bar judges from giving deference to state agencies’ interpretations of laws when they are challenged in court. That could make it easier to win lawsuits challenging how environmental regulations and other laws are being enforced.

Make it much more difficult, in numerous ways, for the Evers administration to put in place rules that implement current and future state laws. Lawmakers, meanwhile, would gain greater power to block any rules that Evers manages to put in place.

Require state agencies to file quarterly reports on their spending.

Require the Evers administration to report if the governor pardons anyone or his aides release anyone from prison early.

Force Evers to get permission from the Legislature before asking the federal government to make any changes to programs that are run jointly by the state and federal governments. That would limit the governor's flexibility in how he runs public benefits programs. If the Legislature’s budget committee determined the administration was not implementing recent changes to those programs, it could reduce funding and staffing for state agencies.

Require Evers to go along with a plan aimed at reducing premiums for insurance plans offered through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces for individuals.

Increase the number of members on the Group Insurance Board, which oversees state health benefits, from 11 to 15. The proposal would allow leaders of the Legislature to appoint the additional members.

Channel federal money into a smaller number of state road projects, so that other projects could avoid having to comply with federal environmental and wage laws.